Mural at Baisha Village

Overview

Baisha Village is the oldest village in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, China. “Baisha” is a local term that means “white sand”. It was originally the seat of the Mu Clan during the Tusi period.

Baisha is well known because of its architecture that resulted from the many ancient dynasties that inhabited the place. Therefore, the place is a representation of the architectural creations of different periods.

• Dabaoji Palace
• Liuli Temple
• Dading Pavilion
• Jingang Palace

Dabaoji Palace and Frescoes

Dabaoji Palace and its Frescoes - The famous frescoes of Baisha can be seen in the Dabaoji Palace. The palace is situated at the very end of Baisha’s main street in the cluster of different temples there. The Dabaoji Palace is said to be the very backyard of the said cluster of temples.

It is made out of 28 sets of frescoes that emulate the Sakyamuni explanation of the different passages of the sutra. Aside from the fact that these are beautiful and vibrant representations of the artistic side of the Mu people, these frescoes also represent the different philosophical beliefs of Buddhism and Taoism.

Overall Systematized Planning - Apart from the many temples in the village, visitors will also be amazed by the fact that the Mu people were adept at systematized planning. This place has many temples and palaces that make it a wonderful representation of China’s ancient cities. The artistic flair and architectural knowledge of the Mu people is seen in how Baisha has been put up and preserved since the beginning of time. During the Song Dynasty’s political period, Baisha became the center of power for the whole of Liang City.

Ancient Irrigation System - An ancient irrigation system was constructed for the whole of Baisha Village. The Mu people were able to channel the village’s water supply from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; this is said to be one of the oldest irrigation systems.

Dading Pavilion

Dading Pavilion - Near the Dabaoji Palace is the famous Dading Pavilion dated back to the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It also contains various murals and paintings that represent the same artistic side of the village’s ancient people. There are 16 well preserved mural paintings which were made during the Qing Dynasty.

As a contrast to the murals and paintings found in the Dabaoji Palace, the murals and paintings found here are more precise in the bright colors used. They also represent the cultural side of China as a whole.As the murals are painted with an organic pigment, do not touch them. Also you cannot take their pictures.

If you want to visit Baisha Village in Lijiang, China Travel can tailor-make a tour including Baisha Village in Lijiang, which can save your time, money, and trouble. Please feel free to tell us your tour ideas!

Solo Adventure Tips:

Location:

Baisha village lies 10km north of Lijiang ancient town, west to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, south to Longquan Village, West to Zhishan Mountain.

How to Get There?

To get to Baisha Village, you can just get a taxi or take a bus ride from Lijiang City. You can also acquire a bicycle from the city and ride your way to the village. You can also take a bus-ride to the said village by specifically taking Bus Number 6 and dismount at the crossing going to Baisha. The trip will cost you about 2 yuan for a one-way ticket. Currently, a round-trip taxi ride to Baisha Village will cost you about 40 yuan.

Ticket Price:

30 CNY per person

Opening Hours:

07:00-21:00

More Tips:

Carry some woolens with you as the weather is quite cold – 3 to 25 degrees Celsius. Make sure that you get a list of good places to visit for food. If not, you need to get hold of a minimal supply of food at Lijiang City for your Baisha trip. Traditional Chinese food will be the most abundant.

Information accuracy：

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